Tile sagger unloading apparatus



Jan. 5, 1943. w. o. BENNING TILE SAGGER UNLOADING APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR mart Orville Bennin BY ATTORNEY.

Jan. 5, 1943. w, o. BENNING 2,307,194

TILE SAGGER UNLOADING APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1940 4 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Jan. 5, 1943. w. o. BENNING TILE SAGGER UNLOADING APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1940 4 Sheets-Sh eet 5 N A N INVENTOR. 7T6 [661C Urfillafiennirgg,

ATTORNEY.

Jan. 5,1943. w. o. BENNING TILE SAGGER UNLOADING APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 III/ I/ll IAI INV-ERJTOR. Zle fienn mleri0n" ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 5, 1943 2,307,194 TILE SAGGER UNLOADING APPARATUS Wilbert Orville Benning, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Pacific Clay Products Company, a corporation of California Application July 15, 1940, Serial No. 345,511

6 Claims.

My invention relates to unloading and packing apparatus and more particularly to that class in which saggers loaded with tiles are unloaded and delivered within convenient reach of an operator who may pack the tiles as received in suitable containers. In the manufacture of earthenware and particularly of tiles it is customary to emplo saggers having shelves upon which blocks of material which have been pressed or molded are placed. These loaded saggers are then fired in a kiln. After firing the loaded saggers are allowed to cool and after cooling they are unloaded leaving the saggers free for further use and the tiles free to be packed in suitable containers. Heretofore men and women have been employed to remove the tiles by hand from the saggers one at a time, and due to the saggers being usually made out of terra-cotta, speed in removing the tiles by the help employed, invariably results in several chipped, scratched or broken tiles and frequently in broken saggers. By the use of my invention damage to the tiles and saggers is reduced to a minimum and the speed with which the saggers can be emptied is materially increased.

The. primary object of the invention, therefore is the mechanical removal of the tiles from the saggers without damage. A further object is to increase the rapidity with which the tiles are re moved from saggers. Among still further objects is simplicity. of construction and increased effectiveness in use.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved unloading apparatus, part of the structure being shown in longitudinal central section; Fig. 2 is a plan of the structure shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front elevation showing part of the apparatus in which a sagger is shown in longitudinal position after it has been placed in the holder; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 3, a portion of the sagger being broken away and in section; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a detail showing part of the ratchet by which the holder is elevated step by step; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the holder when removed from the elevator frame; Fig. 7 is a central longitudinal section of the holder shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the loaded sagger which is adapted to be unloaded, and Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the sagger shown in Fig. 8.

The particular apparatus illustrated is adapted to unload. titles from saggers but it will be un-v derstood that the invention is equally applicable for unloading other articles from holders within the spirit of the invention.

' In the drawings I have shown in Figs. 8 and 9, an ordinary sagger D, which is adapted to be loaded as shown with tiles such as F of rectangular shape. The sagger as shown is a parallelopiped having two open ends and a vertical longitudinal partition 8.. The partition and inner sides of the sagger are formed with shoulders it) so spaced as to provide rests or shelves on which tiles F are placed at. any suitable number of spaced levels. In the illustration each side of the sagger accommodates two tiles arranged successively longitudinally on each pair of shoulders. It has been customary to remove the tiles by hand through the open. ends of the sagger. The two sides of the sagger have hand holes such as H for convenience in handling the saggers. Usually the saggers are made out of terracotta so as to withstand the intense heat of firing the tiles. It will be observed that by tilting the sagger forwardly with one of its open ends downwardly the tiles are caused to slide outwardly. My invention permits the removal of the tiles from successive levels in the sagger by this tilting movement.

My inventionemploys a tiltable elevator frame A; in which a reciprocable elevator or holder B is; mounted. A sagger to be unloaded is first placed in the holder in normal horizontal position as shown in Fig. 4, with one of its open ends facing forwardly. The elevator frame is then tilted forwardly into the position shown in Fig. 1 so as to deposit the tiles from within on a traveling belt conveyor, suitable gate means coordinating with the holder permitting the tiles to discharge from the holder onto a conveyor. These tiles are deposited on the conveyor in opposite horizontal pairs and the conveyor is so constructed as to fold the members of each pair of tilesinwardly into vertical position with their finished faces together so that the pairs of tiles may be successively removed by an operator and packed in suitable containers with their finished faces together without marring or breaking any of the tiles and without injuring the saggers.

A indicates the elevator frame which as shown consists of a normally vertical rectangular channel frame l5 having the vertical channels thereof facing inwardly and forming a pair of longitudinal parallel tracks [6 and I! in which the carrier wheels 29 of the holder B to be hereinafter described travel.v The upper end of the elevator frame is a transverse bar I 9 secured rigidly to the tracks I6 and H. The lower end of the elevator frame is mounted rigidly by brazing or other suitable means upon a platform 20 which in turn is pivoted to swing in a vertical longitudinal plane by gudgeons 2| or other suitable means upon the main frame C of the structure. The holder B is a rectangular frame bounded by a lower end floor 25, upper end 26 and a pair of opposite sides 21 and 28. This frame is of suitable size to admit and hold the loaded sagger D freely yet firmly with its open longitudinal ends forwardly and rearwardly while the tiles are supported longitudinally and to reciprocate freely longitudinally between said side rails. Carrier wheels 29 are journaled upon the opposite vertical sides of the holder so that the holder with a loaded sagger therein may travel longitudinally more freely in the elevator frame. A suitable stop 30 secured rigidly to the frame is positioned so that the lower portion below the axis of the elevator frame prevents the elevator from tilting rearwardly beyond vertical position. The off-set axis provided by gudgeons 2| shifts the center of gravity of the elevator frame A and the parts connected thereto rearwardly so that normally the elevator frame automatically remains upright until tilted forward. After the sagger has been loaded into the holder the elevator frame is tilted forwardly from the vertical position shown in Fig. 4 into the inclined position shown in Fig. 1, sufficiently so that the tiles in the sagger when released are adapted to slide onto the conveying means to be hereinafter described. The forward tilting of the elevator frame is limited by the pair of stops 3| on the main supporting frame against which the side flange plates 32 on the elevator frame impinge.

The elevator frame A is provided with an upwardly extending fixed back wall or retaining gate 35 along the inner surface of which the sagger holder travels to elevate the loaded sagger. Normally the tiles rest horizontally within the easger on the shoulders l0, with the outer ends of the tiles spaced a short distance from its open ends (see Fig. 9), and the loaded sagger is placed in the holder with one of its open ends facing the inner surface of the retaining gate when the elevator frame is in upright unloaded position and the sagger holder is in lowered position. The upper end of the retaining gat terminates a short distance from the upper end of the elevating frame and to unload the sag er the elevator frame is first tilted forward into the loaded position shown in Fig. 1, whereupon the tiles slide forwardly in the sagger in pairs and bear or rest by their lowermost ends in the sagger against the face of the retaining gate. Thus, only when the elevator frame is tilted forwardly from upright position do the tiles bear against the gate. In the lowermost position of the holder, when tilted forwardly, the tiles rest against the retaining gate below its upper edge. To continue the operation of unloading, the holder is elevated step by step by reciprocating the handle 43 of the ratchet lifting mechanism to be hereinafter described, thus permitting each uppermost group of four tiles in the sagger to clear the upper edge of the gate and discharge forwardly in pairs. The edge of the gate has a forward and downwardly extending chute 36, down which the tiles slide in successive pairs as they are permitted to discharge into cooperation with suitable conveyor means as will be hereinafter described. The raising of the holder is permitted until th lowermost group of tiles in the sagger has been permitted to discharge, whereupon the upper'end bar IQ of the elevator frame limits further upward movement of the holder.

A suitable retarder 31, which is arranged to sweep over the tiles as they discharge from the sagger. assists in maintaining the even arrangement of the tiles and prevents the tiles from crowding or piling up.

The step by step release of th tiles by raising the holder in the elevator frame is P d by any suitable means such as a hand operated rack and gear mechanism resembling a jack which as shown consists of a single rack bar 40, connected rigidly to the floor 25 of the holder, which is driven by a pinion 4| to raise the holder. This pinion in turn is propelled by a suitable ratchet mechanism 42 and an operating handle 43. A suitable pawl 44 engaging the teeth of the pinion automatically prevents the unintentional lowering of the holder as it is being elevated. When the pawl 44 is released by hand the holder is permitted to lower by gravity into its initial starting position. This return movement is retarded by the pair of pneumatic checks 45 and 46. Spacing blocks 41 act as stops on the platform 20 against the holder at the lower end of its stroke. The platform 20 is passaged at 48 (see Fig. 5) to admit the rack bar freely and the shaft 49 of the ratchet mechanism is journaled in suitable brackets 50 which support it upon the platform Arranged forwardly from the elevator fram in the main frame C is a conveyor consisting of three adjacent belts 5|, 52 and 53 traveling at even surface speed. The receiving ends of these belts are arranged with their upper laps in a horizontal plane immediately below the lower end of the chute 36 in position so that each opposite pair of tiles F as received from the upper tiers or shelves in the sagger is deposited in horizontal position on the belts with the members of each pair arranged directly opposite each other as they travel forwardly in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 2 toward the delivery end of the apparatus. The pulleys 55, 56 and 51 (see Fig. 2) upon which the belts are mounted are coaxial on a single shaft 58, said shaft being suitably journaled in the main frame C of the apparatus. The belts are of flat type thus avoiding the use of objectionable chains or nubs, as has been usual with other methods of unloading.

The middle belt 53 extends with its upper side traveling forwardly in substantially a horizontal plane and revolves over a horizontal pulley 59 which is mounted upon a drive shaft 60, said shaft being journaled on the main frame C and revolved by suitable driving means. This driving means as shown consists of any suitable reduction gearing such as 6| and the electric motor 62. The tiles F are deposited by the chute 36 in successive pairs in horizontal position upon the three belts with their finished surfaces upwardly and travel forwardly. The two outside belts 5| and 52 make a quarter turn forwardly by passing around the vertical idle pulleys 63 and 64. These idle pulleys are journaled upon the upwardly extending shafts 65 and 66 which are mounted upon the main frame C. The upper sides of the outside belts also incline upwardly and inwardly above the middle belt 53 so as to fold the members of each pair of tiles with their upper finished surfaces together at the delivery end of the belts, in which position the lower edges of the tiles are supported by the middle belt. From the delivery ends of the conveyor belts the tiles are deposited in vertical pairs between the and G8 in upright position upon the" stationary floor 69 in positionso that an operator may transfer the tiles in pairs by hand and pack them in a suitable packing crate such as it. A transverse carrier H supported by the main frame C facilitates the handling of the crates which have been packed. It will be noted that the driving effort imparted to the outside belts El and 52 is transmitted to the drive shaft 58 by the middle belt 53.

Operation A sagger loaded with tiles is placed in the holder B, while the latter is in lowermost position and while the elevator frame A is in the vertical position shown in Fig. 4, with an open end of the sagger against the gate 35. The elevator frame is then tilted forwardly by its handle 12, intothe forwardly inclined position shown in Fig. 1, whereupon the tiles in the sagger slide down the shelves in the sagger and lodge with their lowermost edges evenly disposed against the gate. The conveyor is operated by the prime mover 62 and the holder B is elevated step by step-by reciprocating the ratchet handle 43. As the holder is elevated and as each space between the shelves in the sagger clears the upper horizontal edge of the gate, the tiles are released in opposite pairs and slide down the chute 36 upon the surfaces of the traveling conveyor belts 52, and 53 as shown in Fig. 2. In this manner the tiles are fed in successive pairs upon the belts with their finished surfaces disposed upwardly. As the tiles are carried forwardly by the belts they are gradually folded inwardly into vertical position with their lower side edges resting upon the middle belt 53. At the delivery end of the apparatus the pairs of inwardly facing tiles standing on edge pass upon the stationary shelf 69 between the pair of spaced side guides 61 and 68, where they are removed by an operator and packed in a crate such as on the carrier ll. After the holder B reaches the upper end of its travel and the sagger has been unloaded, the elevator frame is tilted back into its vertical position. The ratchet dog 44 is then released and the holder returns automatically into lowermost position, by gravity, upon the spacing blocks 4?. During its return movement the pneumatic checks a5 and 46 retard and prevent any objectionable impact of the holder at the lower end of its travel, which might otherwise tend to damage the terra-cotta sagger within.

The speed of operation is dependent principally upon how fast the operator can place the tiles in the packing case. For controlling the operation of the belts so that they will not be overcrowded with tiles and so that the tiles will be removed in accord with their release from the sagger, the switch for controlling the operation of the motor 62 is provided with foot controls l6 and 11 which are conveniently located within reach of the operators at the opposite ends of the apparatus. While the disclosure employs means by which the speed of operation is controlled by hand it is contemplated that automatic means may be substituted. Also the disclosure employs hand operated elevating means for the holder, whereas the invention contem- I plates the use of any suitable hand operated, automatic or power driven means within the spirit thereof. Further the disclosure shows a sagger containing rectangular tiles, whereas it is contemplated that the unloading may be applied to other types of holdersand to" other shapes of tiles than as shown.

By the use ofm'y invention tiles are removed from saggers with greater speed than heretofore and Without damage. The construction is simple and effective in operation, fewer-parts being employed and no adjustments required. Whilebeing manually operated as disclosed the construction is easily modified and made to be entirely automatic in action. Theinvention is also applicable to many other uses for unloading various kinds of objects and materials and for this reason changes in construction are contemplated.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of operation of my invention together with the construction thereof which I now consider to represent the bestembodiment thereof but I desire to have it .understood that the structure shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set forth within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for unloading tiles from saggers, comprising, a stationary frame, an elevator frame having a retaining gate in its back, a sagger holder slidably mounted in the elevatorframe for supporting a sagger loaded with tiles and for movement upwardly along said retaining .gate, said elevator frame being tiltingly mounted upon said stationary frame to normally assume upright unloaded position with the tiles in the sagger free from bearing against said retaining gate and to assume forward inclined loaded position with the holder supporting the sagger and with the tiles in the sagger bearing against said retaining gate. and means for raising said holder along said retaining gate to elevate and permit the discharge of the tiles from the sagger in the holder above said retaining gate when the elevator frame and holder are in forwardly inclined position.

2. Apparatus for unloading tiles from saggers, comprising, a stationary frame, an elevating frame having a retaining gate in its back, a sagger holder slidably mounted in the elevating frame for supporting a sagger loaded with tiles in pairs and for movement upwardly along said retaining gate, said elevating frame being tiltingly mounted upon said stationary frame to normally assume upright unloaded position with the tiles in the sagger free from hearing against said retaining gate and to assume forward inclined loaded position with the holder supporting a sagger and with the tiles in the sagger bearing against said retaining gate in pairs, and means for raising said holder along said retaining gate to elevate and permit the discharge of the tiles from the sagger in the holder in pairs above said retaining gate when the elevating frame and the holder are in forwardly inclined position.

3. Apparatus for unloading and folding tiles in pairs from saggers, comprising, a stationary frame, an elevator frame having a retaining gate in its back, a sagger holder slidably mounted in the elevator frame for supporting a sagger loaded with tiles and for movement upwardly along said retaining gate, said elevator frame being tiltingly mounted upon said stationary frame to normally assume upright unloaded position with the tiles in the sagger free from bearing against said retaining gate and to assume forward inclined loaded position with the holder supporting a sagger and with the tiles in the sagger bearing against said retaining gate in pairs, means for raising said holder along said retaining gate to elevate and permit the discharge of the tiles from the sagger in the holder in pairs above said retaining gate when the elevator frame and the holder are in forwardly inclined position, and means for receiving the pairs of tiles when permitted to discharge from the sagger and folding the members of each pair inwardly together.

4. Apparatus for unloading tiles in pairs from saggers, comprising, a stationary frame, an elevator frame having a retaining gate in its back, a sagger holder slidably mounted in the elevator frame having a floor for supporting a sagger loaded with tiles and for movement upwardly along said retaining gate, said elevator frame being tiltingly mounted upon said stationary frame to normally assume upright unloaded position with the tiles in the sagger free from hearing against said retaining gate and to assume forward inclined loaded position with the holder supporting a sagger and with the tiles in the sagger bearing against said retaining gate in pairs,

means for raising said holder along said retain ing gate to elevate and permit the discharge of the tiles from the sagger on the floor of said holder in pairs above said retaining gate when the elevator frame and the holder are in forward- 1y inclined position, and means for limiting the forward inclination of the elevator frame.

5. Apparatus for unloading tiles in pairs from saggers, comprising, a stationary frame, an elevator frame having a retaining gate in its back, a sagger holder slidingly mounted in the elevator frame having a floor for supporting a sagger loaded with tiles and for movement upwardly along said retaining gate, said elevator frame being tiltingly mounted upon said stationary frame to normally assume upright unloaded position with the tiles in the sagger free from hearing against said retaining gate and to assume forward inclined loaded position with the holder supporting a sagger and with the tiles in the sagger bearing against said retaining gate in pairs, means for raising said holder along said retaining gate to elevate and permit the dischrge of the tiles from the sagger on the floor of said holder in pairs above said retaining gate when the elevator frame and the holder are in forward 1y inclined position, and means interposed between the elevator frame and the sagger holder for cushioning the return movement of the holder from raised to lowered position.

6. Apparatus for unloading tiles in pairs from an open end of a saggar, comprising, a stationary frame, an elevator frame consisting of a pair of upwardly extending guide channels spaced laterally apart, a horizontal base and a gate wall in its back extending above said base between said channels, said elevator frame being tiltingly mounted in said stationary frame to assume normal upright unloaded position and to recline forwardly, a holder reciprocable in said channels having a marginal frame with an open back over said gate wall and a floor to hold a sagger loaded with tiles with its open end forward adjacent to and the pairs of tiles therein bearing against said gate wall and a propeller shaft extending downwardly from said floor and through said base, said holder being movable along said gate wall to elevate the sagger holder above the retaining gate wall and cause the pairs of tiles in the sagger to clear the upper edge of the gate wall and permit discharge of the tiles from the sagger in pairs when the elevator frame is inclined forwardly and elevated, and ratchet mechanism for propelling said shaft and elevating the holder.

WILBERT ORVILLE BENNING. 

